Anyone planning a trip to the seaside over the Easter bank holiday might want to think again.
Because far from being bathed in spring sunshine, Britain could be covered in snow in the final weekend of March.
Bookies have slashed the odds on a white Easter - which would be the first proper one for 30 years.
It comes as winter weather returns to the UK with a vengeance, bringing travel chaos to the roads and railways.
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Temperatures are expected to plummet to -7C with freezing winds buffeting travellers.
There was a smattering of Easter snow in 2008, but 1983 remains the snowiest one on record.
Forecasters said it was too early to speculate on whether this Easter weekend - March 29 to April 1 - could match it.
But that hasn't stopped the bookies, with Ladbrokes offering evens on snow falling in any major city and 4/1 on 2013 being the coldest Easter on record.
Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: "The odds of snow falling over Easter are dropping as quick as the temperatures.
"Only a week ago the UK was basking in the sunshine but there's no chance that this month will be the warmest March on record now."
Speaking about an improvement on the weather, Alexi Boothman, meteorologist at Meteogroup, said milder weather was expected towards the end of the week.

Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Lorries queue for the Channel Tunnel on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent as Operation Stack is implemented on the snow-hit motorway.
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Parked cars off Brighton seafront covered in deep snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Spring Weather - March 12th
The snow-covered mountains in Teesdale as the cold weather continues.
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: A general view of Brighton Beach after heavy overnight snow falls on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 11: Two men walk in the snow at Devils Dyke on the South Downs on March 11, 2013 in Brighton, United Kingdom. Snowfall is affecting Southern parts of the UK with yellow severe weather warnings issued for London and South-East England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 11: A women takes pictures of the snow whilst walking her dog at Devils Dyke on the South Downs on March 11, 2013 in Brighton, United Kingdom. Snowfall is affecting Southern parts of the UK with yellow severe weather warnings issued for London and South-East England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: People make their way along a snow covered pavement after heavy overnight snow falls on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton beach is covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton beach is covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: People make thier way along the sea front after heavy overnight snow falls on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: A general view of Brighton Beach and Pier after heavy overnight snow falls on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: People out enjoying the snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton seafront is covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. Snowfall is affecting Southern parts of the UK with yellow weather warnings issued for London and South-East England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton seafront covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton seafront covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Snow Hits The UK
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Brighton beach is covered in a blanket of snow on March 12, 2013 in Brighton, England. Snowfall is affecting Southern parts of the UK with yellow weather warnings issued for London and South-East England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Spring Weather - March 12th
A car left in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Sheep seen in the snow covered wicklow mountains on the outskirts of Dublin as large parts of the UK and Ireland continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Sheep seen in the snow covered wicklow mountains on the outskirts of Dublin as large parts of the UK and Ireland continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Sheep seen in the snow covered wicklow mountains on the outskirts of Dublin as large parts of the UK and Ireland continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
A Highways Agency Snow Plough in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
People walk in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
People walk in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
A car left in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
People walk in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
A van left on the A23 in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
A van left on the A23 in the snow near Bolney, West Sussex.
Spring Weather - March 12th
A general view of the River Liffey in the wicklow mountains on the outskirts of Dublin as large parts of the UK and Ireland continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Commuters wait for trains in freezing conditions at Haywards Heath train station as large parts of the UK continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Commuters wait for trains in freezing conditions at Haywards Heath train station as large parts of the UK continue to experience winter weather conditions.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Snow in Eastbourne, Sussex today as hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Dog walkers at the Bow Lee Beck waterfall at Gibson's Cave in Teesdale which has frozen as the cold weather continues.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Charles Hurd, 55, looks at the icicles at the Bow Lee Beck waterfall at Gibson's Cave in Teesdale which has frozen as the cold weather continues.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Charles Hurd, 55, looks at the icicles at the Bow Lee Beck waterfall at Gibson's Cave in Teesdale which has frozen as the cold weather continues.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Dog walkers at the Bow Lee Beck waterfall at Gibson's Cave in Teesdale which has frozen as the cold weather continues.
Spring Weather - March 12th
Charles Hurd, 55, looks at the icicles at the Bow Lee Beck waterfall at Gibson's Cave in Teesdale which has frozen as the cold weather continues.
Spring Weather - March 11th
A driver loses control of their car on Farthing Common near Folkestone, Kent, as winter weather returned to some parts of the UK.
A pedestrian tries to shelter from snow in London, Monday, March 11, 2013. Temperatures in the capital plummeted to below freezing on Monday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
People walk into the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as the snow falls, where Britain's Home Secretary's lawyers are to ask the Court of Appeal to overturn a block on deporting the radical cleric Abu Qatada to Jordan where he faces a retrial for alleged involvement in terrorism plots, Monday, March 11, 2013. Last November, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) ruled there was a real risk that evidence obtained by torturing witnesses would be used against Qatata at his retrial in Jordan.(AP Photo/Sang Tan)







PA/The Huffington Post UK | Posted: 11/03/2013 12:01 GMT | Updated: 11/03/2013 12:07 GMT